Linux on MacBook Air

Question

I'm thinking of getting a MacBook Air. The answers to this post will help me make my decision. My questions and my understanding of current solutions are:

1. How difficult is it to install a Linux-based OS (like Fedora or Ubuntu)?

   • I've heard a little about rEFIt, but am not sure what to make of it. Is it completely necessary? Do I still need it if I don't plan to dual boot with Mac OS X?
   • Also a dual-boot isn't necessary, I'd just like to run Fedora/Ubuntu by itself, but I'm curious to know if a dual boot is simple.

2. Does everything 'just work'?

   • In my current laptop I need to add a wireless driver (Broadcom card). I've heard Macs use Broadcom wireless cards. Will this be an issue?
   • How about graphics/touchpad (& multitouch)/sound?

I'm aware there are tutorials out there on how to install some older version of some OS on your Mac, but my questions are a bit more general: Will it be easy to use (install and configure drivers for) recent Linux distributions with a new MacBook Air?

I don't mind extra configuration, but would like to know where it'll be necessary, because if it's too much of a hassle I'll look at other hardware.

Solution

I'm writing this comment from Fedora 17 on a MacBook Pro. Previously, I installed Ubuntu and dual booted it with OS X and, atm, the dual-booting comprises Mac OSX and Fedora, through rEFIT. I honestly don't know if you can single boot Linux on a Mac, you should probably try your luck with EFI but, i assure you it's quite easy to dual-boot it. The most important thing that doesn't work out of the box is the WI-FI adapter but it's easily solved by installing the proper BCM (Broadcom) driver.

Comments

[Renan]

If you want to run Linux on a Mac (i.e. Mac OS X doesn't suit your UNIX needs), consider VirtualBox. It will be less of a hassle

[user]

sorry but it'll have to be native. I like the hardware, but if others have had too much trouble with it I don't mind choosing something else. This post is to figure out how much of a hassle it is with recent releases of recent distros on new macbook-air hardware so I can make that decision

[fideli]

@enduser As an example, please check out the community-generated MacBook Air compatibility and installation notes page for Ubuntu. Generally most things 'just work' and if you're comfortable doing some fixing at the command line, I think you'll have no problem.